MUKK is a creative lifestyle brand in Malaysia on a mission to create something different from the “ordinary” in our everyday lives.
According to them, we Malaysians “have a very low perception and understanding of good design”. They aim to change the perception of what Malaysians think of as “good design”, through their own handmade local pieces.
MUKK was founded by Sim Chia Yi and Vivien Shi Wei in 2015.
What started out as their love for design and to provide quality handmade woodwork products shifted to an obligation to to deliver sustainable design management that will help build the industry and preserve the environment.
“For MUKK, we mainly focus on wood as our core material as we wish to provide sustainable material to the public through our designs as it can last for a decade and does not harm the environment.”
They use a variety of local wood and lumber sourced overseas, particularly rubberwood because of its sustainable factor.
This comes as no surprise as their name itself—MUKK—means wood in Mandarin, which represents their concept of wood material.
Another choice of material is plantation wood, which they are more careful in selecting because of the health risks they pose to the public.
“We believe that good design minimises wastage and adopts biodegradable materials.”
They highlighted their coaster, which also functions as a table organiser. Common coasters that consumers use are usually made out from layers of paper and will rot over time, requiring a replacement.
“We designed Lunahills, which functions as a coaster and displays a pleasant scenery for you when it is not in use; and is inspired by the mountains. It’s made from solid-wood, therefore the problem of wastage and reinvestment for commercial use is eliminated and the maintenance cost is much lower in the long run.”
“Our inspiration comes from everywhere but mainly from solving a problem that we face in our daily lives; that’s the core principle of our product design.”
– Chia Yi
Other problem-solving innovations they provide is the egg crate, which doubles as a muffin holder, pot-plant display, or even your own pot organiser!
Similarly, their desktop organiser can be used to store stationery, trinkets, or even jewelries. You can even personalise it with photos or positive quotes to uplift your mood—take your pick.
One piece that stood out to me is the MUKK frame, a simple design that can frame up any quote or picture of your choice. The frame is held together by a rubber band, and the acrylic used helps to give an illusion that whatever you’re framing up is suspended mid-air.
Depending on the product, the MUKK team shared that it can take 6 months to 1 year to fully complete the production and development.
They are seeing a 20% growth rate per annum and have already broken even with their early beginnings of a capital of RM40k.
Both of the designers are currently working full-time on MUKK and specialise in “experience design”.
It is the practice of designing products with a emphasis placed on enhancing the user’s experience and provide relevant solutions.
Starting out from local roots did not deter them to set their sights on overseas ventures in the past. Their eventual objective is to be an internationally recognised brand, born and bred in Malaysia.
One of their prominent art installations is now permanently displayed at The Bravery Cafe in conjunction with Singapore Design Week.
Apart from Singapore Design Week, they also collaborated with Gwang Ju Design Center, and Malaysian Design Council as one of the selected design studios to represent the country for this collaboration.
Their work was also published in overseas fairs such as Mobili Milan Malaysia 2015 and MIFF Furniture Design Competitions 2015. Vivian’s designs were also exhibited in the 2016 Malaysian International Furniture Fair.
When asked if they had any advice for young designers aspiring to head in the same direction as they, the two co-founders replied:
“Love what you do, think thrice before starting anything, ask yourself every now and then if you’re on the right track, if not stop what you’re doing as soon as possible, think it through and start again! Be persistent yet flexible enough to adapt to change! Make sure you’re happy doing what you’re doing!”
Feature Image Credit: MUKK
